How many members does the Electoral College consist of?

The Electoral College consists of 538 members because this number is derived from the total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress, plus three electors for the District of Columbia. There are 100 Senators (two from each state) and 435 Representatives, which together account for 535 electors. The additional three electors for Washington, D.C., established by the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution, bring the total to 538. During presidential elections, this number is critical as it determines the majority needed to win the presidency, which is at least 270 electoral votes. This structure is designed to include representation from both the population (through Representatives) and the states (through Senators) in the presidential election process, ensuring a balance between populous and less populous states.